The utility company faces deep financial problems with more than $30 billion in debt and an inability to sell enough power to cover costs. Eskom has regularly received government support in the form of bailouts and state guarantees.

According to analysts, prolonged power cuts will likely hurt economic growth in the first quarter of 2019.

Update on Ebola outbreak in DRC

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continued to spread through North Kivu province this week, reaching the city of Butembo and several isolated areas. New cases reported have increased the outbreak total to 458 since it began in August 2018, with a death total of 263 people. According to the World Health Organization, the outbreak is now the second worst in history behind the outbreak in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people between 2014 and 2016.

This week, Sudanese lawmakers backed a constitutional amendment to extend presidential term limits. President Omar al-Bashir, who has been in power since 1989, is currently expected to step down in 2020, when his term ends. President al-Bashir has won both elections since the 2005 constitutional amendment imposed a two term-limit to presidency.

Parliament’s speaker, Ibrahim Ahmed Omar, told reporters that he “received a memorandum from 33 parties representing 294 deputies to amend the constitution with regard to the number of times the president’s candidacy is allowed.” Earlier this year, Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party nominated al-Bashir to run as its candidate in the 2020 elections.

In other news, Zambia’s high court ruled on Friday that President Edgar Lungu may run in the 2021 elections, finding that by doing so, he would not be breaching the two-term constitutional limit. This ruling is based on the technicality of what constitutes a term rather an extension of time in power. Lungu’s first term lasted only for one year and six months and his supporters argue that the constitution says a president is only considered to have served a term if he is in office for at least three of the five-years per term.

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By Dhruv Gandhi
Rolling power cuts and land reform moves forward in South Africa
Last week, South Africa’s largest power utility company, Eskom, began implementing daily rolling blackouts to stabilize supply on the power grid. The blackouts are expected to continue for several months as the utility company faces financial and operational challenges. Eskom previously enacted similar grid stabilization measures in 2008 and 2015. The current round of power cuts has been necessitated by plant breakdowns, coal shortages, and construction delays.
The utility company faces deep financial problems with more than $30 billion in debt and an inability to sell enough power to cover costs. Eskom has regularly received government support in the form of bailouts and state guarantees.
According to analysts, prolonged power cuts will likely hurt economic growth in the first quarter of 2019.
In other news, this week, South Africa’s National Assembly approved a report that recommends amending the constitution to make land expropriation without compensation possible. The report is part of an ongoing process to implement land reforms in South Africa where the white minority, traditional leaders, and elites own most of the land. As a next step, the National Assembly approved the creation of a 25-person committee that will draft a new bill on land reform and share it with parliament before April 2019.
Update on Ebola outbreak in DRC
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continued to spread through North Kivu province this week, reaching the city of Butembo and several isolated areas. New cases reported have increased the outbreak total to 458 since it began in August 2018, with a death total of 263 people. According to the World Health Organization, the outbreak is now the second worst in history behind the outbreak in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people between 2014 and 2016.
An experimental vaccine has been used to help contain the spread of the outbreak, with more than 42,000 doses administered this year within the DRC. However, a more widespread outbreak in Butembo or other urban areas could render vaccine supplies insufficient. Containing the outbreak has been particularly difficult for health workers due to active conflicts and political instability in the area, and the number of Ebola cases has surged during periods of security deterioration.
Health officials warn that large public gatherings before and during the upcoming general election scheduled for December 23, could pose a future challenge to reducing the spread of the epidemic.
Sudan’s parliament backs constitutional amendment to extend presidential term limits
This week, Sudanese lawmakers backed a constitutional amendment to extend presidential term limits. President Omar al-Bashir, who has been in power since 1989, is currently expected to step down in 2020, when his term ends. President al-Bashir has won both elections since the 2005 constitutional amendment imposed a two term-limit to presidency.
Parliament’s speaker, Ibrahim Ahmed Omar, told reporters that he “received a memorandum from 33 parties representing 294 deputies to amend the constitution with regard to the number of times the president’s candidacy is allowed.” Earlier this year, Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party nominated al-Bashir to run as its candidate in the 2020 elections.
In other news, Zambia’s high court ruled on Friday that President Edgar Lungu may run in the 2021 elections, finding that by doing so, he would not be breaching the two-term constitutional limit. This ruling is based on the technicality of what constitutes a term rather an extension of time in power. Lungu’s first term lasted only for one year and six months and his supporters argue that the constitution says a president is only considered to have served a term if he is in office for at ... By Dhruv Gandhi
Rolling power cuts and land reform moves forward in South Africa
Last week, South Africa’s largest power utility company, Eskom, began implementing daily rolling blackouts to stabilize supply on the power ... https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2018/08/18/africa-in-the-news-disputed-election-results-in-mali-and-zimbabwe-sanctions-on-south-sudan-and-more/Africa in the news: Disputed election results in Mali and Zimbabwe, sanctions on South Sudan, and morehttp://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~/564987424/0/brookingsrss/topics/sudan~Africa-in-the-news-Disputed-election-results-in-Mali-and-Zimbabwe-sanctions-on-South-Sudan-and-more/
Sat, 18 Aug 2018 10:00:31 +0000https://www.brookings.edu/?p=533196

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By Amy Copley

South Africa and Kenya tackle corruption

In February, during his first speech as president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to “turn the tide of corruption.” This week, the anti-corruption campaign ramped up as South Africa’s constitutional court ordered that the country’s chief prosecutor, Shaun Abrahams, be removed from office. The court’s argument is that Mr. Abrahams benefited from President Zuma’s abuse of power and thus should be removed from office. In 2015, President Zuma paid $687,000 to former state prosecutor, Mxolisi Nxasana, for him to step down and allow for the appointment of Mr. Abrahams to the post. The court ruled that the removal of Mr. Nxasana and the subsequent appointment of Mr. Abrahams was unconstitutional. The court also ordered Mr. Nxasana to repay $687,000 acquired from President Zuma.

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By Amy Copley
South Africa and Kenya tackle corruption
In February, during his first speech as president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to “turn the tide of corruption.” This week, the anti-corruption campaign ramped up as South Africa’s constitutional court ordered that the country’s chief prosecutor, Shaun Abrahams, be removed from office. The court’s argument is that Mr. Abrahams benefited from President Zuma’s abuse of power and thus should be removed from office. In 2015, President Zuma paid $687,000 to former state prosecutor, Mxolisi Nxasana, for him to step down and allow for the appointment of Mr. Abrahams to the post. The court ruled that the removal of Mr. Nxasana and the subsequent appointment of Mr. Abrahams was unconstitutional. The court also ordered Mr. Nxasana to repay $687,000 acquired from President Zuma.
In related news, on Monday, a Kenyan court charged officials with fraud over the new $3 billion railway, which is set to link Mombasa and Nairobi. The court states that mismanagement has led a $2.2 million loss in public funds. Kenya’s anti-corruption agency alleges that the officials have embezzled funds through fake compensation claims for the land used for the construction of the railway. The officials arrested include the chairman of the National Land Commission, Mohammed Swazuri, the director of the Kenta Railways Corporation, and 16 other businesspeople and companies, all of whom pleaded not guilty to graft charges.
Opposition parties dispute elections results in Mali and Zimbabwe
On Sunday, Malians went to the polls in a run-off election to determine the country’s next president in a context characterized by an array of security and economic challenges. The race pitted incumbent President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita against opposition candidate and former finance minister Soumaila Cisse—a repetition of the 2013 election in which Keita came to power. On Thursday, the government announced that Keita won the election with 67 percent of the vote. Voter turnout was low at 34 percent, compared to normal levels of participation at 40 percent. Security concerns contributed to the depressed vote, as threats by jihadist militants forced 500 polling stations (2 percent of the total number of stations) to close. Moreover, despite the prominent troop presence on Election Day, an election center in the Timbuktu region experienced an attack by suspected jihadists, during which an election official was killed.
Following the announcement of the election results, the opposition campaign chief, Tiebile Drame, stated that Cisse and his team would use “all democratic means” to dispute the results, which they claimed were fraudulent. Earlier in the week, on Monday, Cisse asserted that he would reject the results of the run-off, alleging that the government was responsible for vote rigging the initial election on July 29, as well as the run-off election. EU and AU poll observers, on the other hand, stated that although some voting irregularities were evident, conditions were generally acceptable and there was no evidence of widespread fraud.
Meanwhile in Zimbabwe, this week the constitutional court stated that on Wednesday, August 22 it would hear the opposition party’s challenge to the presidential election results from the July 30 presidential vote. At that time, it will decide whether to throw out the opposition’s case, run a new election, or declare a new winner. The opposition party argues that “gross mathematical errors” gave President Emmerson Mnangagwa the narrow lead he needed to defeat opposition leader Nelson Chamisa in the poll. The electoral commission and Mnangagwa’s team refute the opposition party’s claims.
Sanctions and progress on peace in South Sudan
Last week, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir announced that the government would pardon former combatants of the ... By Amy Copley
South Africa and Kenya tackle corruption
In February, during his first speech as president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to “turn the tide of corruption.” This week, the anti-corruption campaign ramped up as ... https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2018/07/28/africa-in-the-news-brics-summit-aftermath-south-sudan-power-sharing-agreement-and-zimbabwe-election-prep/Africa in the news: BRICS summit aftermath, South Sudan power-sharing agreement, and Zimbabwe election prephttp://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~/561236390/0/brookingsrss/topics/sudan~Africa-in-the-news-BRICS-summit-aftermath-South-Sudan-powersharing-agreement-and-Zimbabwe-election-prep/
Sat, 28 Jul 2018 10:00:20 +0000https://www.brookings.edu/?p=530296

This year, the three-day summit was attended by Ramaphosa, Xi, Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Brazilian President Michel Temer and focused on the theme, “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” Notably, the summit included a BRICS-Africa Outreach Session, during which leaders from Angola, Gabon, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, and Uganda took part in dialogues with BRICS heads of state on the theme, “BRICS in Africa: Working towards the realization of the African Aspirations.” At the end of the summit, the BRICS leaders adopted the Johannesburg Declaration, which reaffirms principles of democracy, inclusiveness, and fights against unilateralism and protectionism.

During the high-level meetings on the BRICS countries’ core areas of cooperation—including economic issues, peace and security, and people-to-people exchanges—trade featured prominently, especially given rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China in recent months. On the summit’s opening day, Xi stated, “A trade war should be rejected because there will be no winner,” in reference to escalating threats from the U.S. In the Johannesburg Declaration, the heads of state agreed that, “the importance of an open world economy, enabling all countries and peoples to share the benefits of globalization, which should be inclusive and support sustainable development and prosperity of all countries.” Moreover, Ramaphosa commented during the BRICS Business Forum that “there’s also much scope to expand the value of trade between BRICS countries themselves. As a country that’s primarily an exporter of commodities to its BRICS partners, South Africa supports a shift towards complementary value-added trade.”

Many are pessimistic because this is not the first attempted power-sharing deal and a coalition of nine opposition parties have refrained from signing saying their suggestions for the deal were ignored. A similar deal dissolved in July of 2016 after fighting erupted Juba, and Machar left the country. This time around, the opposition claims they can “live with” the agreement, but state that it is destined to fail if security arrangements are not implemented in the early stages of the agreement.

In his electoral promises, Mnangagwa, who also faces divisions within the ZANU-PF, pledges to break away from Mugabe’s contentious policies, lure investment into the country, and work with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to solve the debt issue. Chamisa, Zimbabwe’s youngest electoral candidate at 40, also promised to break away from tradition, cut taxes, and reduce the government payroll, which presently absorbs 90 percent of national budget.

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By Mariama Sow
China’s President Xi Jinping and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi continue Africa visit after productive BRICS summit
On Wednesday, July 25, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the 10th summit of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Following regular meetings among their countries’ ministers throughout the year, the annual BRICS summit serves as a platform for BRICS heads of state and government to affirm their joint commitments within the political bloc for the year ahead.
This year, the three-day summit was attended by Ramaphosa, Xi, Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Brazilian President Michel Temer and focused on the theme, “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” Notably, the summit included a BRICS-Africa Outreach Session, during which leaders from Angola, Gabon, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, and Uganda took part in dialogues with BRICS heads of state on the theme, “BRICS in Africa: Working towards the realization of the African Aspirations.” At the end of the summit, the BRICS leaders adopted the Johannesburg Declaration, which reaffirms principles of democracy, inclusiveness, and fights against unilateralism and protectionism.
During the high-level meetings on the BRICS countries’ core areas of cooperation—including economic issues, peace and security, and people-to-people exchanges—trade featured prominently, especially given rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China in recent months. On the summit’s opening day, Xi stated, “A trade war should be rejected because there will be no winner,” in reference to escalating threats from the U.S. In the Johannesburg Declaration, the heads of state agreed that, “the importance of an open world economy, enabling all countries and peoples to share the benefits of globalization, which should be inclusive and support sustainable development and prosperity of all countries.” Moreover, Ramaphosa commented during the BRICS Business Forum that “there’s also much scope to expand the value of trade between BRICS countries themselves. As a country that’s primarily an exporter of commodities to its BRICS partners, South Africa supports a shift towards complementary value-added trade.”
In other news, leading up to summit, Leaders Xi and Modi visited several African countries, during which they announced a slew of new investments in the region. Xi signed dozens of bilateral agreements in Senegal and Rwanda—although the exact value and content of the deals was not immediately made public. In South Africa, Xi pledged $14.7 billion in investment, $2.8 billion of which would be used to support the country’s struggling state utility company, Eskom. Following the BRICS summit, Xi will travel to Mauritius, a country with which China is currently negotiating a free trade agreement. Meanwhile, Modi announced that India would provide $200 million in loans for infrastructure and environmental projects in Uganda, provide $200 million in loans to Rwanda to develop industrial parks and build agricultural infrastructure, and open 18 new embassies across the continent over the next three years to supplement the 29 African missions already there.
South Sudan government and rebels sign power-sharing deal, again
On Wednesday, South Sudan’s government and the main opposition party signed a power-sharing deal in Juba, which they hope will end the country’s nearly five years of conflict. The agreement will be signed on August 5. It leaves President Salva Kiir as head of a transitional government while returning rebel chief Riek Machar to his previous position as first vice president. It also stipulates the government will include 20 ministers from Kiir’s ... By Mariama Sow
China’s President Xi Jinping and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi continue Africa visit after productive BRICS summit
On Wednesday, July 25, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the 10th summit of the ... https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2018/07/14/africa-in-the-news-south-sudan-peace-breaks-down-ethiopia-eritrea-peace-cemented-and-major-energy-projects-make-progress/Africa in the news: South Sudan peace breaks down, Ethiopia-Eritrea peace cemented, and major energy projects make progresshttp://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~/558391708/0/brookingsrss/topics/sudan~Africa-in-the-news-South-Sudan-peace-breaks-down-EthiopiaEritrea-peace-cemented-and-major-energy-projects-make-progress/
Sat, 14 Jul 2018 10:00:44 +0000https://www.brookings.edu/?p=528142

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By Christina Golubski

South Sudan peace talks break down while its parliament extends president’s term to 2021

The governments also agreed to jointly develop ports along Eritrea’s coast, reconnect their countries via road and air transit, and reopen embassies in both countries. While both Ethiopia and Eritrea stand to gain from the prospect of increased cross-border trade and through the use of Eritrea’s ports, Eritrea will also now have access to potash reserves that were formerly a part of the disputed territory along the two countries’ border. On Friday, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki announced that he would be heading to Addis Ababa for three days, starting on Saturday, just a week after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Asmara.

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By Christina Golubski
South Sudan peace talks break down while its parliament extends president’s term to 2021
The tenuous peace negotiations over the civil war in South Sudan broke down this week as the faction supporting former Vice President Riek Machar rejected a deal that would have reinstated him. Negotiations over recent weeks have been fraught with misunderstandings and weak enforcement: The cease-fire agreed just two weeks ago broke down hours after it had been instated. According to Deutsche Welle, on July 8, the leaders left the meeting with conflicting accounts over whether a power-sharing agreement was even reached.
It seems that the rebels had been looking for more from the negotiations—namely institutional adjustments that would check President Salva Kiir’s power base—according to Reuters. “We will not fall only for the position of the First Vice President in this negotiation. We are focusing more on structural and institutional issues to constrain Kiir’s regime both in the executive and legislature,” said Puok Both Baluang, deputy spokesman for the largest rebel group. Meanwhile, on July 11, South Sudan’s Parliament voted to extend Kiir’s presidential term for three years, allowing him to stay in power until 2021. The extension applies to vice presidents, state lawmakers, and governors as well. Critics believe that the move will undermine the already fragile peace talks, but Paul Youani Bonju, chairman of the parliament’s information committee, has stated that the law will instead “bolster the government team” at the negotiations.
On July 10, the United Nations (U.N.) announced that the recent attacks by the government in Unity state in April and May earlier this year, which killed 232 civilians along with committing mass rape may amount to war crimes. On Friday, the U.N. Security Council approved an arms embargo on the country. Tens of thousands of people have already died and millions have fled their homes in the civil war that has endured since 2013.
Ethiopia and Eritrea affirm peace deal and re-establish ties
In April, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced in his inaugural address his commitment to end the border dispute and repair ties with neighboring Eritrea after two decades of war. In that vein, last month, the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) fully accepted the 2000 Algiers peace agreement and the subsequent ruling issued by an international border commission, essentially declaring its intention to withdraw Ethiopian troops from disputed territories. This week, Abiy met with his Eritrean counterpart, President Isaias Afweki, in Eritrea’s capital of Asmara and cemented a peace deal, declaring the end to hostilities and normalizing relations between the two countries. Notably, the agreement called for the Ethiopian telecom service Ethio-Telecom to restore its phone lines with Eritrea, opening up communications and prompting phone calls—between family, friends, and even strangers—in the two countries to resume, reported The New York Times.
The governments also agreed to jointly develop ports along Eritrea’s coast, reconnect their countries via road and air transit, and reopen embassies in both countries. While both Ethiopia and Eritrea stand to gain from the prospect of increased cross-border trade and through the use of Eritrea’s ports, Eritrea will also now have access to potash reserves that were formerly a part of the disputed territory along the two countries’ border. On Friday, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki announced that he would be heading to Addis Ababa for three days, starting on Saturday, just a week after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Asmara.
Nigerian oil refinery expected to commence operations in 2020, and hydropower project gets approval in Zimbabwe
An oil refinery under ... By Christina Golubski
South Sudan peace talks break down while its parliament extends president’s term to 2021
The tenuous peace negotiations over the civil war in South Sudan broke down this week as the faction supporting former Vice ... https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2018/05/18/africa-in-the-news-drcs-ebola-response-south-sudans-peace-talks-and-kenyas-cybercrime-law/Africa in the news: DRC’s Ebola response, South Sudan’s peace talks, and Kenya’s cybercrime lawhttp://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~/546698230/0/brookingsrss/topics/sudan~Africa-in-the-news-DRC%e2%80%99s-Ebola-response-South-Sudan%e2%80%99s-peace-talks-and-Kenya%e2%80%99s-cybercrime-law/
Fri, 18 May 2018 20:46:40 +0000https://www.brookings.edu/?p=517764

The United Nations deploys more peacekeepers to South Sudan as peace talks begin

This week, U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock concluded his two-day visit to South Sudan—where civil war and the resulting humanitarian crisis have entered their fifth year. On Wednesday, May 16, Lowcock issued a dismal report on the country’s ongoing hostilities, stating, “Belligerents use scorched-earth tactics, murder, and rape as weapons of war… Seven million people need humanitarian assistance in 2018. And things are simply getting worse.” Since the beginning of the conflict in December 2013, fighting between government troops led by President Salva Kiir and rebel forces led by former Vice President Riek Machar has forcibly displaced over 4 million people, with more than 2 million people fleeing to neighboring countries. Meanwhile, internally displaced persons in South Sudan rely heavily on humanitarian assistance to survive; however, violence against aid workers by both the government and opposition forces have restricted humanitarian access and obstructed the delivery of life-saving aid. Lowcock highlighted these challenges, noting, “The aid agencies are subjected to harassment, extortions, and looting, kidnapping, killings, and other blockage all over the country and those things have a direct effect reducing our ability to help people who need humanitarian assistance.”

On Thursday, David Shearer, the head of the U.N. mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), announced that it would send 150 more peacekeepers to Unity State to protect civilians who are being targeted in intensifying clashes between the warring parties. “Our fresh deployment will enable peacekeeping troops to patrol deeper to reach remote villages where the worst atrocities are taking place to create a protective presence and deter further fighting,” he said. On the same day, the South Sudanese warring parties reinitiated peace talks in Ethiopia, as a part of a High-Level Revitalization Forum organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc. In advance of these talks, IGAD hosted discussions “to revisit general principles and practices relating to governance and security issues during political transitions.” These sessions aimed to prepare negotiators to settle on security and power-sharing arrangements for a Transitional Government of National Unity at the forum.

Notably, Kenya is among the top-10 most targeted countries in the world when it comes to attacks by mobile malware. In fact, according to CIO East Africa, cybercrime cost Kenya over KSh21.2 billion in 2017. However, this bill has come under immense criticism due to its potential to constrain free speech. In an attempt to eliminate “fake news,” the bill states, “A person who intentionally publishes false, misleading or fictitious data or misinforms with intent that the data shall be considered or acted upon as authentic, with or without any financial gain, commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.” The Committee to Protect Journalists, along with reporters, media companies, bloggers, free speech advocates, and social media users, have been lobbying the Kenyan government to reject the bill, arguing that it might be used to curtail the rights of the media as well as criminalizes unauthorized access to government data, a provision that also removes protection for whistleblowers. Tope Ogundipe, director of programs at Digital Rights NGO Paradigm Initiative, has emphasized that this legal move is spreading in Africa: “A worrisome trend in the development and adoption of such legislation (in Africa) has been the potential, maybe even the intent in other cases, to violate human rights, especially related to freedom of expression, right to privacy and access to information.”

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By Amy Copley
Ebola spreads to urban center in the DRC; WHO deploys new vaccine
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) health minister announced on Wednesday, May 16 that the current Ebola outbreak had spread to urban areas with the first confirmed case in Mbandaka, a city of 1 million people. Health officials announced 13 more confirmed cases on Friday, including two new cases in Mbandaka, as the death toll from the ongoing outbreak reached 25. Also on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its public health risk assessment and raised it from “high” to “very high” for the DRC and from “moderate” to “high” for neighboring countries. However, it did not raise its global risk assessment, which is currently classified as “low.” The ongoing Ebola outbreak originated in a remote area in the DRC’s Equateur province, more than a 100 miles south of Mbandaka and is the ninth outbreak in the country since the 1970s. Commenting on the outbreaks spread to urban areas, Peter Salama, a senior WHO official, noted that urban Ebola “is a very different animal from rural Ebola. The potential for an explosive increase in cases is now there.” The threat of the virus spreading to other areas has increased, as Mbandaka is located on the Congo River, which is a major route for trade and transport, and the Republic of the Congo is on the other side of the river.
The international community and health officials in the DRC have mobilized quickly to contain the outbreak. Doctors Without Borders has opened treatment centers in Bikoro, the epicenter of the current outbreak. The Congolese health ministry has deployed epidemiologists in the affected areas to track down people who may have had contact with infected individuals. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, visited the country last weekend “to take stock of the situation” and met with President Joseph Kabila to discuss the issue. According to The Washington Post, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, which responded to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, is ready to deploy teams to the DRC as soon as the WHO has assessed its needs for the response. On Thursday, the World Bank announced it is providing $3 million to support the DRC’s Ebola Virus Disease Response Plan.
As part of its response, the WHO organization is deploying an experimental Ebola vaccine, 4,300 doses of which have arrived in Kinshasa with 7,540 more on the way. This is the vaccine’s first deployment, which is still unlicensed but has been cleared for “compassionate use” by the WHO. During field trials in Guinea in 2016, it was found to be 100 percent effective. The vaccine is designed for ring vaccination where all people who might have recent contact with an infected individual are tracked down and vaccinated to prevent the disease from spreading. The lack of reliable electricity in remote areas is a major challenge in deploying the vaccine because it must be stored at temperatures between -60 and -80 degrees Celsius. Another challenge is that under the “compassionate use” protocol, health workers must get fully informed signed consent from each individual who is vaccinated, which is expected to require at least 45 minutes per individual and require translators for several local languages.
The United Nations deploys more peacekeepers to South Sudan as peace talks begin
This week, U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock concluded his two-day visit to South Sudan—where civil war and the resulting humanitarian crisis have entered their fifth year. On Wednesday, May 16, Lowcock issued a dismal report on the country’s ongoing hostilities, stating, “Belligerents use scorched-earth tactics, murder, and rape as weapons of war… Seven million ... By Amy Copley
Ebola spreads to urban center in the DRC; WHO deploys new vaccine
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) health minister announced on Wednesday, May 16 that the current Ebola outbreak had spread to urban areas with the ... https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2018/02/09/africa-in-the-news-mozambiques-constitutional-reforms-in-dakars-education-funding-summit-and-u-s-sanctions-on-south-sudan-and-drc/Africa in the news: Mozambique’s constitutional reforms, Dakar’s education funding summit, and US sanctions on South Sudan and DRChttp://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~/524666328/0/brookingsrss/topics/sudan~Africa-in-the-news-Mozambique%e2%80%99s-constitutional-reforms-Dakar%e2%80%99s-education-funding-summit-and-US-sanctions-on-South-Sudan-and-DRC/
Fri, 09 Feb 2018 17:36:29 +0000https://www.brookings.edu/?p=490125

In a national address on Wednesday, February 7, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced changes for the country’s constitution, changes which will increase the likelihood of striking a peace deal with the country’s largest opposition group, the Mozambican National Resistance (the armed wing of which is known as Renamo). According to Bloomberg, Renamo previously fought the government during the 16-year civil war that ended in 1992 and was involved in the fighting between 2013-2016.

The visit marks Macron’s sixth visit to the continent since he took office nine months ago. This time around, he, accompanied by World Bank President Kim, visited the Senegalese city of Saint Louis, a World Heritage Site and former political capital of the colony and French West Africa. There, Macron pledged $18.6 million to fight coastal erosion. This pledge complement a $29.9 million package from to World Bank to counter the ocean’s advance in “Africa’s Venice.”

US imposes sanctions on South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In other news, this week the U.S. also imposed targeted sanctions on four individuals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who it accuses of having “engaged in destabilizing activities responsible for prolonging the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and contributing to widespread poverty, chronic food insecurity, and population displacement.” These “human rights abusers,” as the director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control called them, will have their assets within U.S. jurisdiction blocked, and they will be prohibited from engaging in transactions with U.S. citizens.

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By Dhruv Gandhi
Mozambique plans constitutional reforms to secure peace deal and joins Economic Partnership Agreement between EU and SADC
In a national address on Wednesday, February 7, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced changes for the country’s constitution, changes which will increase the likelihood of striking a peace deal with the country’s largest opposition group, the Mozambican National Resistance (the armed wing of which is known as Renamo). According to Bloomberg, Renamo previously fought the government during the 16-year civil war that ended in 1992 and was involved in the fighting between 2013-2016.
These negotiations, starting with Nyusi’s meeting with opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama in the remote Gorogosa Mountains, have been ongoing since in 2015. The reforms will include a decentralization of power from the national to regional governments, with winning parties in provincial parliamentary elections able to appoint regional governors approved by the president. The changes also create the new position of provincial state secretary who will represent each region in national decisionmaking.
Also this week, the country joined the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). The agreement, already being implemented by other SADC countries, will eliminate custom duties for Mozambican exports to the EU and requires that Mozambique reduce or eliminate custom duties on EU imports over the coming years.
In other business news, Mozambique approved development plans for a major liquefied natural gas project with an estimated investment of $20 billion. According to Bloomberg, a consortium of multinational investors are in the process of securing a gas sales agreement before finalizing the investment, with buyers still to be found for 3.4 million metric tons of annual gas production.
World leaders unite in Dakar to raise $2.3 billion for education
On Friday, February 2, Senegalese President Macky Sall and French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the third Financing Conference for The Global Partnership for Education. Created in 2002, the initiative aims to provide 870 million children with quality education, giving priority to the poorest, most vulnerable, and conflict-affected areas. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The meeting involved several prominent world leaders including World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo. Entertainer and entrepreneur Rihanna was also in attendance, within the scope of her role as ambassador for her Clara Lionel Foundation. During the conference, Macron pledged $248 million to the fund, and urged fellow world leaders to follow suit. In all, donors pledge $2.3 billion, with the EU, U.K., Norway, France, and Denmark making the highest commitments. Senegal pledged $2 million, making it the first recipient country to pledge to the fund. Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo urged fellow African leaders to improve domestic resource mobilization and increase their contribution to funding educational attainment. He stated that limiting capital flight would free up prodigious resource to fund African education.
The visit marks Macron’s sixth visit to the continent since he took office nine months ago. This time around, he, accompanied by World Bank President Kim, visited the Senegalese city of Saint Louis, a World Heritage Site and former political capital of the colony and French West Africa. There, Macron pledged $18.6 million to fight coastal erosion. This pledge complement a $29.9 million package from to World Bank to counter the ocean’s advance in “Africa’s Venice.”
US imposes sanctions on South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Last week, the United ... By Dhruv Gandhi
Mozambique plans constitutional reforms to secure peace deal and joins Economic Partnership Agreement between EU and SADC
In a national address on Wednesday, February 7, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced changes for the ... https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2017/11/17/africa-in-the-news-zimbabwes-political-crisis-new-u-s-africa-engagement-and-african-airlines-restructuring-and-expansion/Africa in the news: Zimbabwe’s political crisis, new US-Africa engagement, and African airlines’ restructuring and expansionhttp://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~/494404284/0/brookingsrss/topics/sudan~Africa-in-the-news-Zimbabwe%e2%80%99s-political-crisis-new-USAfrica-engagement-and-African-airlines%e2%80%99-restructuring-and-expansion/
Fri, 17 Nov 2017 17:21:20 +0000https://www.brookings.edu/?p=466886

The United States steps up its engagement with Africa

On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley gave remarks on the crisis in South Sudan at the U.S. Holocaust Museum. Her speech described her recent trip to the continent, the atrocities she witnessed there, and her conversation with President Salva Kiir, in which she stressed the administration’s increasingly unsteady support for his regime: “The United States is both generous and patient, but we are not without our limits,” she said. “Entire generations are being lost in South Sudan. Families are being destroyed. We cannot and will not look away.” Her pressure might be showing results: After her conversation with Kiir last week, the president promised “free, unimpeded and unhindered movement” for humanitarian efforts in his country.

Haley also remarked extensively on the current suffering and tribulations facing the people of South Sudan, but also emphasized the resilience in the people there, stating, “But even in the midst of all the pain and all the suffering, there was dignity. South Sudanese refugees just want to be able to go home and live normal lives. They want desperately to be productive and self-sufficient.”

Beyond humanitarian and security issues, the U.S. is showing signs of engaging African leaders on economic issues this week: On November 16 and 17, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson hosts 36 African foreign ministers to discuss U.S.-Africa relations beyond aid, including conversations around trade, investment, and good governance.

Kenya Airways and its lenders released terms for restructuring its debt in a debt-for-equity swap this week. Under these terms, the Kenyan government and 11 local banks will own nearly 90 percent of the airline. The government’s stake will rise from 29.8 to 48.9 percent while local lenders will own 38.1 percent of the airline, and Air France KLM’s share will fall from 26.7 to 7.8 percent. Mbuvi Ngunze, the former Kenya Airways CEO and an adviser on the deal, termed this a “$2 billion restructuring.” The government has also offered contingent guarantees on $750 million of the airline’s debt. As part of the restructuring process, shares of Kenya Airways were suspended from trading on the Nairobi Stock Exchange for two weeks starting Wednesday.

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By Amy Copley
Zimbabwean military takes control of state institutions
Political tensions within Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party came to a head this week after months of factional infighting. In the early morning of Wednesday, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces took custody of President Robert Mugabe and his family. The army also took control of the national Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Mugabe’s Harare offices, and the Police Support Unit. Army Chief of Staff Major General SB Moyo issued a statement on the state television network, announcing that Mugabe and his family were being held in a secure location as “criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering” were detained. He also asserted, “We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of government. What the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is doing is to pacify a degenerating political, social and economic situation in our country which if not addressed may result in violent conflict.” On Friday, though, Bloomberg reported that, if Mugabe does not resign, he could be impeached.
These actions by the army follow Mugabe’s firing of Zimbabwe’s Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week over accusations from First Lady Grace Mugabe and other detractors that Mnangagwa planned to overthrow the government. Mnangagwa held close relationships with the army leadership and was widely believed to be next in the line of succession.
Mnangagwa’s sacking was thought to pave the way for Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband as president—a move that drew ire from the army. At a press conference on Monday held by senior army officials in reaction to Mnangagwa’s dismissal, General Constantino Chiwenga said, “The current purging, which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background, must stop forthwith.” On Thursday, Mugabe engaged in direct talks with army chief General Chiwenga and two South African envoys from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the State House in Harare to discuss the future of his rule—although a conclusion has yet to be reached. Then on Friday, Mugabe made his first public appearance since the military takeover at a graduation ceremony in Harare, but neither the army nor the presidency made an announcement regarding a resolution to the political crisis.
The United States steps up its engagement with Africa
On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley gave remarks on the crisis in South Sudan at the U.S. Holocaust Museum. Her speech described her recent trip to the continent, the atrocities she witnessed there, and her conversation with President Salva Kiir, in which she stressed the administration’s increasingly unsteady support for his regime: “The United States is both generous and patient, but we are not without our limits,” she said. “Entire generations are being lost in South Sudan. Families are being destroyed. We cannot and will not look away.” Her pressure might be showing results: After her conversation with Kiir last week, the president promised “free, unimpeded and unhindered movement” for humanitarian efforts in his country.
Haley also remarked extensively on the current suffering and tribulations facing the people of South Sudan, but also emphasized the resilience in the people there, stating, “But even in the midst of all the pain and all the suffering, there was dignity. South Sudanese refugees just want to be able to go home and live normal lives. They want desperately to be productive and self-sufficient.”
Also this week, the U.S. Africa Command (AfriCom), in coordination with the Somali government, launched another drone strike on al-Shabaab and the Islamic State in Somalia. This strike follows five more that occurred just last week that killed 40 combatants. ... By Amy Copley
Zimbabwean military takes control of state institutions
Political tensions within Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party came to a head this week after months of factional infighting. In the early morning of Wednesday, the Zimbabwe ... https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2017/10/27/africa-in-the-news-kenyas-election-re-run-nikki-haleys-africa-trip-and-south-africas-budget-troubles/Africa in the news: Kenya’s election re-run, Nikki Haley’s Africa trip, and South Africa’s budget troubleshttp://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~/480139816/0/brookingsrss/topics/sudan~Africa-in-the-news-Kenya%e2%80%99s-election-rerun-Nikki-Haley%e2%80%99s-Africa-trip-and-South-Africa%e2%80%99s-budget-troubles/
Fri, 27 Oct 2017 19:57:10 +0000https://www.brookings.edu/?p=463137

Since Thursday, violence and protests have continued throughout the country, though largely in opposition-supporting areas. There have been reports of firebombing in Nairobi slums to which the police have responded with tear gas. Police have shot protesters. Some voters report attacks by opposition supporters for going in to vote. Five people have already been killed in the hostilities around the country.

Notably, given the low turnout, if Kenyatta does win, his mandate will be unclear. In addition, as Reuters reports, there are still many avenues through which opposition candidates can again call for an annulment. As George Kegoro, executive director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, said, Thursday’s re-run “was more of a blow to democracy than it was a victory… It is a very, very significant legitimacy problem for whatever government [Kenyatta] might form.”

For up-to-date news on the election from the ground, see the Kenyan newspaper The Daily Nation.

Nikki Haley has strong words for South Sudan and DRC leaders, and Antonio Guterres calls for more international engagement in the CAR

This week, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley embarked on her first Africa trip where she paid a visit to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Just before her departure, in an opinion piece on CNN.com, she stated that, during the visit, she would take a look at U.N. operations on the ground and meet with South Sudanese and Congolese leaders in order to “deliver a strong message that their governments need to stop making the work of aid workers and peacekeepers more difficult.”

Haley began her trip in South Sudan, during which she held a “very frank” conversation with President Salva Kiir, informing him that the U.S. had lost trust in the world’s youngest nation. She added that aid and other assistance are at stake and the U.S. will consider withholding funds if the violence does not ease. On Wednesday, she visited a U.N. camp, where her visit was cut short after hundreds of protesters showed up to protest Kiir, though the president was not present at the camp. Haley had to be escorted out of the camp.

In related news, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived in the Central African Republic, where he met with President Faustin-Archange Touadéra and other members of government. Guterres called for increased engagement from the international community in the country, as “there is an opportunity to build a new Central African Republic that is peaceful, secure and prosperous.” Guterres endorsed the need to strengthen MINUSCA—the peacekeeping United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic—in order to allow it to better serve citizens. Guterres also warned against the potential use of religion to enforce political divisions, in light of the country’s historical division along ethno-religious lines. During his visit, Guterres also led a wreath-laying service to honor peacekeepers killed in action.

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By Christina Golubski
Kenya’s election re-run sees low voter turnout and protests
On Thursday, Kenya held the re-run of its August 8 presidential election that was nullified in September due to election irregularities. The political air in Kenya has been tense for weeks, especially with main opposition challenger Raila Odinga’s boycott and continuing concerns over the legitimacy of the re-run. On Wednesday, a last-minute petition to delay the election was postponed due to a failure of the court to have a quorum. And, on Wednesday in his op-ed in the The Washington Post, incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta said that Odinga and the opposition “seek to sow discord and delegitimize Kenya’s institutions and the vote on Thursday. They strive to force a path into power through a backroom deal in which they would hold office.”
Since Thursday, violence and protests have continued throughout the country, though largely in opposition-supporting areas. There have been reports of firebombing in Nairobi slums to which the police have responded with tear gas. Police have shot protesters. Some voters report attacks by opposition supporters for going in to vote. Five people have already been killed in the hostilities around the country.
Reports have stated that the October 26 election has been marked by low turnout, largely due to the boycott by Raila Odinga’s coalition, the National Super Alliance. As of Friday morning, turnout was estimated at only 34 percent—in comparison to August’s 80 percent. Quartz Africa reports polling stations reporting that “[n]ot a single voter voted,” stating that they could not open due to “an attack by hooligans,” or confirming extreme low turnout, but “free and fair.” In addition, voting in four counties has been postponed until Saturday due to “security concerns.” Other polling stations have reportedly been blocked off by opposition supporters.
Notably, given the low turnout, if Kenyatta does win, his mandate will be unclear. In addition, as Reuters reports, there are still many avenues through which opposition candidates can again call for an annulment. As George Kegoro, executive director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, said, Thursday’s re-run “was more of a blow to democracy than it was a victory… It is a very, very significant legitimacy problem for whatever government [Kenyatta] might form.”
For up-to-date news on the election from the ground, see the Kenyan newspaper The Daily Nation.
Nikki Haley has strong words for South Sudan and DRC leaders, and Antonio Guterres calls for more international engagement in the CAR
This week, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley embarked on her first Africa trip where she paid a visit to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Just before her departure, in an opinion piece on CNN.com, she stated that, during the visit, she would take a look at U.N. operations on the ground and meet with South Sudanese and Congolese leaders in order to “deliver a strong message that their governments need to stop making the work of aid workers and peacekeepers more difficult.”
Haley began her trip in South Sudan, during which she held a “very frank” conversation with President Salva Kiir, informing him that the U.S. had lost trust in the world’s youngest nation. She added that aid and other assistance are at stake and the U.S. will consider withholding funds if the violence does not ease. On Wednesday, she visited a U.N. camp, where her visit was cut short after hundreds of protesters showed up to protest Kiir, though the president was not present at the camp. Haley had to be escorted out of the camp.
Haley’s next stop was the Congo, a country with which she has continued to be forceful in her language against its government’s “predatory ... By Christina Golubski
Kenya’s election re-run sees low voter turnout and protests
On Thursday, Kenya held the re-run of its August 8 presidential election that was nullified in September due to election irregularities.https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2017/04/14/africa-in-the-news-us-to-sell-warplanes-to-nigeria-zimbabwe-considers-moveable-assets-as-loan-collateral-and-ugandas-bidi-bidi-refugee-camp-becomes-largest-in-world/Africa in the news: US to sell warplanes to Nigeria, Zimbabwe considers moveable assets as loan collateral, and Uganda’s Bidi-Bidi refugee camp becomes largest in worldhttp://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~/291962580/0/brookingsrss/topics/sudan~Africa-in-the-news-US-to-sell-warplanes-to-Nigeria-Zimbabwe-considers-moveable-assets-as-loan-collateral-and-Uganda%e2%80%99s-BidiBidi-refugee-camp-becomes/
Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:04:04 +0000https://www.brookings.edu/?p=397705

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By Christina Golubski

The Trump administration issues plan to sell warplanes to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram

This week, the Trump administration announced their intention to sell 12 warplanes to Nigeria with the aim of assisting in the fight against Boko Haram. The sale, which requires congressional approval, is third attempt in three years by the United States to sell military planes to Nigeria. In January 2017, the Obama administration stopped a sale proposal from going to Congress after reports emerged that a Nigerian fighter jet, while looking for Boko Haram fighters, accidentally bombed a refugee camp, causing at least 52 deaths. During a conversation between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Donald Trump, the latter expressed support for the sale of the aircrafts. Officials from the U.S. State Department, the Pentagon, and the White House have stated that the $600 million sale would be a great asset for the Nigerian air force in the fight against Boko Haram.

This week also marks the third anniversary of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping. Of the 276 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram on the night of April 14, 2014, 195 are still missing. On Tuesday, Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated that there were ongoing negotiations with the group, and he was optimistic that the conversation would lead to the release of more schoolgirls. For security reasons, Osinbajo did not provide additional details about the nature of the negotiation. One of complications in the talks with Boko Haram came after the group’s split last year, with one fraction pledging allegiance to ISIS and the other remaining under the control of long-time leader Abubakar Shekau. Amid the split, the Nigerian government found itself negotiating with two separate entities, with each faction holding a number of Chibok girls captive.

On Tuesday, the Zimbabwean Parliament considered a bill that would allow “moveable assets,” such as livestock, vehicles, and household appliances, such as televisions, computers, and refrigerators, to qualify as collateral. The bill aims to ease restrictions preventing informal workers and entrepreneurs from accessing funding. At the moment, only $250 million of the country’s $4 billion in bank loans in the year to date have gone to small businesses. While Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has argued that the bill would increase access to credit and thus promote financial inclusion, bankers have expressed concerns about “the definition of assets, most of which are susceptible to rapid depreciation in value.” Currently the bill defines these assets as “any tangible or intangible property other than immovable property.”

The bill requires that the central bank create a collateral registry database of all moveable assets put up as loan security in order to “facilitate commerce, industry and other socio-economic activities.” Commercial banks would be required to accept these types of assets as security for credit. Several countries already allow moveable assets to qualify as collateral, including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Peru, and Ukraine. According to Voice of America, the bill still faces several logistical stages before it will become law.

According to The Guardian, such an influx of arrivals is now a common occurrence in Uganda, where an average of 2,800 refugees arrived each day in March. Earlier this month, Uganda surpassed Kenya to become the host of the world’s largest refugee camp, Bidi-Bidi, which harbors at least 270,000 refugees and only opened in August 2016. Uganda has maintained open borders even as refugee flows have increased owing to its compassionate national policies toward refugees, stemming in part from the fact that many Ugandan leaders were once refugees—including current President Yoweri Museveni. In Uganda, refugees have the right work and travel, are allowed to access the same social services as Ugandans, and are given plots of land to live on and farm.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Babar Baloch called the displacement from South Sudan “the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis” last month and argued that “urgent and large-scale additional support” is needed to support Uganda and five other East African countries. UNHCR has appealed for $781.8 million in funding to support South Sudanese refugees in the region, only 8 percent of which has been met by international donors so far.

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By Christina Golubski
The Trump administration issues plan to sell warplanes to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram
This week, the Trump administration announced their intention to sell 12 warplanes to Nigeria with the aim of assisting in the fight against Boko Haram. The sale, which requires congressional approval, is third attempt in three years by the United States to sell military planes to Nigeria. In January 2017, the Obama administration stopped a sale proposal from going to Congress after reports emerged that a Nigerian fighter jet, while looking for Boko Haram fighters, accidentally bombed a refugee camp, causing at least 52 deaths. During a conversation between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Donald Trump, the latter expressed support for the sale of the aircrafts. Officials from the U.S. State Department, the Pentagon, and the White House have stated that the $600 million sale would be a great asset for the Nigerian air force in the fight against Boko Haram.
This week also marks the third anniversary of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping. Of the 276 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram on the night of April 14, 2014, 195 are still missing. On Tuesday, Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated that there were ongoing negotiations with the group, and he was optimistic that the conversation would lead to the release of more schoolgirls. For security reasons, Osinbajo did not provide additional details about the nature of the negotiation. One of complications in the talks with Boko Haram came after the group’s split last year, with one fraction pledging allegiance to ISIS and the other remaining under the control of long-time leader Abubakar Shekau. Amid the split, the Nigerian government found itself negotiating with two separate entities, with each faction holding a number of Chibok girls captive.
In other news, the Nigerian Department of State Services announced this week that it has foiled plans by Boko Haram to attack U.S. and U.K. embassies in Abuja. Six people were arrested last month in relation to the plot. However, the claims were not confirmed by any independent outlets. In addition, last week, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning urging U.S. citizens to avoid all but essential travel to northeast Nigeria, as the situation remains fluid and unpredictable.
Zimbabwe’s Parliament moves to qualify livestock and household appliances as collateral
On Tuesday, the Zimbabwean Parliament considered a bill that would allow “moveable assets,” such as livestock, vehicles, and household appliances, such as televisions, computers, and refrigerators, to qualify as collateral. The bill aims to ease restrictions preventing informal workers and entrepreneurs from accessing funding. At the moment, only $250 million of the country’s $4 billion in bank loans in the year to date have gone to small businesses. While Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has argued that the bill would increase access to credit and thus promote financial inclusion, bankers have expressed concerns about “the definition of assets, most of which are susceptible to rapid depreciation in value.” Currently the bill defines these assets as “any tangible or intangible property other than immovable property.”
The bill requires that the central bank create a collateral registry database of all moveable assets put up as loan security in order to “facilitate commerce, industry and other socio-economic activities.” Commercial banks would be required to accept these types of assets as security for credit. Several countries already allow moveable assets to qualify as collateral, including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Peru, and Ukraine. According to Voice of America, the bill still faces several logistical stages before it will become law.
Uganda’s policies provide support to South Sudanese refugees
South Sudan’s ... By Christina Golubski
The Trump administration issues plan to sell warplanes to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram
This week, the Trump administration announced their intention to sell 12 warplanes to Nigeria with the aim of assisting in the ... https://www.brookings.edu/events/meeting-on-the-crisis-in-south-sudan/Meeting on the Crisis in South Sudanhttp://webfeeds.brookings.edu/~/225328826/0/brookingsrss/topics/sudan~Meeting-on-the-Crisis-in-South-Sudan/
Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000https://www.brookings.edu/?post_type=event&p=342367

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On November 11, Adama Dieng, United Nations special adviser on the prevention of genocide released a statement on the worsening situation in South Sudan after his recent visit to the country. With strong words, he said:

I am dismayed to report that what I have seen and heard here has confirmed my concerns that there is a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines, with the potential for genocide. I do not say that lightly. In place of the development of a South Sudanese national identity, I have seen that there is extreme polarization between some tribal groups, which has increased in certain places since the outbreak of violence in July this year.

Inflammatory rhetoric, stereotyping and name calling have been accompanied by targeted killings and rape of members of particular ethnic groups, and by violent attacks against individuals or communities on the basis of their perceived political affiliation. The media, including social media, are being used to spread hatred and encourage ethnic polarization, and letters threatening specific groups have surfaced in the last month. I am particularly concerned by the involvement of the youth of this country in this dangerous spread of hatred and hostility, as they are particularly susceptible to divisions within society.(For the full statement and his findings, see here.)

With the utmost conviction, he warned the international community of growing, unwarranted violence, widespread fear, and the potential for even more atrocities. He called for preventative action by the state and the international community, in particular regional organizations, stating, “I must emphasize that genocide is a process. It does not happen overnight. And because it is a process and one that takes time to prepare, it can be prevented.”

Just earlier this year South Sudan was celebrating and making plans for peace and recovery from the civil war that broke out in December 2013. As part of a peace agreement, which many experts consider to be very well elaborated on paper, leader of the opposition Riek Machar returned to Juba to once again take up the post of vice president under his former opponent President Salva Kiir. This peace was short-lived, though, as only a few months later intense violence broke out again.

On November 2, 2016, the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative and the International Growth Centre co-hosted a private roundtable to discuss the current state of play and outlook for the country. Participants were in grave agreement: The situation in the country has rapidly deteriorated. There are 1.2 million refugees and a quarter of the population is internally displaced. The economy has “virtually collapsed,” humanitarian groups are unable to reach those most in need due to safety concerns, 60 percent of the country is severely food insecure, famine is on the horizon, and there are real fears of genocide and ethnic cleansing especially as the dry season approaches, giving armed actors more mobility throughout the country.

The most pressing issue, noted those recently in the country, is the fact that violence has not only heightened but also spread to previously peaceful states, and the undertones of ethnic tensions are no longer concealed beneath the surface. Youth and even government officials have been spreading dangerous, violent rhetoric. As explained by Peter Ajak in a recent blog, the Dinka ethnic group is increasingly—and improperly—being identified as one with the government, a trend that has incited attacks against them. The Dinka Council of Elders is not dissuading these ideas and Kiir’s government is not dampening tensions. A large problem, one participant emphasized, is that there is a fear pervading the country of “speaking out against one own,” which is allowing the violent rhetoric to continue. A couple participants noted their frustration with Juba, stating that it is preventing food aid from getting to places of dire need and opposes other actions the U.S. government has tried to take. At the same time, security forces are not getting paid, which, according to one participant, encourages bad behavior from them such as looting and assaulting vulnerable civilians.

The international community’s role was also at the forefront of the discussion. Some participants explained there is a strong disappointment and despair around the U.N.’s presence in the country. At the same time, others expressed strong criticism for the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which had led the peace discussions. Some agreed that the heads of state of South Sudan’s neighbors can and should be doing much more, but after the crisis in Burundi, they are unlikely to “step out on a ledge.” Though an arms embargo—which is not in place in South Sudan—was discussed, some experts commented on the extremely high barriers to its implementation, including coordination of its six neighbors—such as Sudan and the war-torn Central African Republic. In addition, other discussants noted a “governance vacuum” in the rest of the world due to the U.S.’s preoccupation over its national elections, Europe’s attention towards Brexit, and transitions within the United Nations.

Unsurprisingly, added some participants, given the country’s growing instability, its economy has fallen apart. Inflation is on the verge of hyperinflation at 1000 percent, prices are changing daily, and the economy is being dollarized, according to those recently on the ground. One expert reiterated the South Sudan’s rapid economic deterioration, stating that it is a completely different economy than even a month ago. Low oil prices mean that Juba has only a fraction of its previous income, and is financing deficits of 20 percent of GDP through arrears and money creation. The government can barely cover its wage bill. The South Sudanese pound has lost 90 percent of its value. And, when the crisis finally passes and South Sudan finally gets the chance to recover, its journey will be that much harder, given that it has sold future oil on contracts now, has accumulated arrears on debt, and has no reserves.

Poverty, which stood at around 50 percent in 2009 at South Sudan’s independence, has likely now surpassed 70 percent, a number, which one person emphasized, that doesn’t include internally displaced persons or citizens of locations considered too unsafe in which to venture—indicating that the true national poverty rate is much higher.

Participants considered several options looking forward: Many participants expressed the view that both Kiir and Machar cannot be a part of the next government, and there needed to be space for more inclusive national political dialogue. The two should give way voluntarily and through diplomatic and collective regional and international pressure with an exit package. At the same time, some participants were still wary of international—especially non-African—political intervention in the crisis, emphasizing that the face of the transition must be South Sudanese. Then again, many argued that while any transition must have a national face, there are core sectors that require external outsourcing such as security sector, economy (the central bank), and judiciary because of lack of capacity and the trust deficit.

A couple of participants contended that although the peace agreement is not in a healthy shape, it can be saved because there are some positive provisions that should be kept such as hybrid court and economic reforms. However, many participants believed that the agreement was essentially dead although it is a document that can be implemented by the right people in the right environment. On the local level, discussants spoke of the potential for hybrid courts—with both local and international judges—to ensure that victims of the conflict achieve justice. The group resonated to the idea of proposing that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon call a heads-of-state meeting to address the crisis. A purpose would be to put increased pressure on neighboring regional actors to assume some responsibility for the deterioration in South Sudan and to help be part of the solution. Meantime, every effort should be made on the ground to bring together prospective leaders on all sides to promote peace and understanding among the future leaders of the nation.

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Washington, DCpast14781258001478048400America/New_YorkOn November 11, Adama Dieng, United Nations special adviser on the prevention of genocide released a statement on the worsening situation in South Sudan after his recent visit to the country. With strong words, he said:
I am dismayed to report that what I have seen and heard here has confirmed my concerns that there is a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines, with the potential for genocide. I do not say that lightly. In place of the development of a South Sudanese national identity, I have seen that there is extreme polarization between some tribal groups, which has increased in certain places since the outbreak of violence in July this year.
Inflammatory rhetoric, stereotyping and name calling have been accompanied by targeted killings and rape of members of particular ethnic groups, and by violent attacks against individuals or communities on the basis of their perceived political affiliation. The media, including social media, are being used to spread hatred and encourage ethnic polarization, and letters threatening specific groups have surfaced in the last month. I am particularly concerned by the involvement of the youth of this country in this dangerous spread of hatred and hostility, as they are particularly susceptible to divisions within society. (For the full statement and his findings, see here.)
With the utmost conviction, he warned the international community of growing, unwarranted violence, widespread fear, and the potential for even more atrocities. He called for preventative action by the state and the international community, in particular regional organizations, stating, “I must emphasize that genocide is a process. It does not happen overnight. And because it is a process and one that takes time to prepare, it can be prevented.”
Just earlier this year South Sudan was celebrating and making plans for peace and recovery from the civil war that broke out in December 2013. As part of a peace agreement, which many experts consider to be very well elaborated on paper, leader of the opposition Riek Machar returned to Juba to once again take up the post of vice president under his former opponent President Salva Kiir. This peace was short-lived, though, as only a few months later intense violence broke out again.
On November 2, 2016, the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative and the International Growth Centre co-hosted a private roundtable to discuss the current state of play and outlook for the country. Participants were in grave agreement: The situation in the country has rapidly deteriorated. There are 1.2 million refugees and a quarter of the population is internally displaced. The economy has “virtually collapsed,” humanitarian groups are unable to reach those most in need due to safety concerns, 60 percent of the country is severely food insecure, famine is on the horizon, and there are real fears of genocide and ethnic cleansing especially as the dry season approaches, giving armed actors more mobility throughout the country.
The most pressing issue, noted those recently in the country, is the fact that violence has not only heightened but also spread to previously peaceful states, and the undertones of ethnic tensions are no longer concealed beneath the surface. Youth and even government officials have been spreading dangerous, violent rhetoric. As explained by Peter Ajak in a recent blog, the Dinka ethnic group is increasingly—and improperly—being identified as one with the government, a trend that has incited attacks against them. The Dinka Council of Elders is not dissuading these ideas and Kiir’s government is not dampening tensions. A large problem, one participant emphasized, is that there is a fear pervading the country of “speaking out against one own,” which is allowing the violent rhetoric to continue. A couple participants noted their frustration with Juba, stating that it is preventing food aid from getting ... On November 11, Adama Dieng, United Nations special adviser on the prevention of genocide released a statement on the worsening situation in South Sudan after his recent visit to the country. With strong words, he said: